LONDON: New Zealand are feeling confident after they ended day one of the final and crucial Test against Pakistan on 229 for seven, according to Jeet Raval.
The Black Caps opener was talking after the tourists recovered from 72 for four to eke past the 200-mark and Raval predicted anything over 250 will be a competitive score.
“(Batting is only) going to get harder and harder,” the batsman, who scored 45 before falling to the spin of Ysair Shah, said.
“I think we got a decent score in the first innings and add a few more tomorrow morning, and then put Pakistan under pressure in their first innings.
“Obviously we want to score as much as possible. Around 250-plus will be awesome.”
New Zealand came into the Test on the back of a humbling innings and 16-run defeat in Dubai — mostly down the the brilliant bowling of Yasir who recorded his Test best figures of 14 for 184. Having won the toss skipper Kane Williamson elected to bat and before the end of the first session the Black Caps looked to be in trouble. Having been 70 for one, three quick Yasir wickets meant they fell to 72 for four. But Williamson’s men showed the fight that was lacking in the second Test as he and BJ Watling put on a fifth-wicket stand of 104 in 249 balls.
Williamson struck seven boundaries but these were the bright points in a day when defense came first.
The normally robust and aggressive Kiwi captain curbed his attacking instincts as he attempted to carve out a first innings that might give his side some leverage in the match. The scoring rarely got above two an over.
Watling also dug in and the pair batted right through the middle session. Williamson passed 50 in a Test for the 46th time but he was not able to convert his innings into another hundred. Having reached 89 off 176 balls, he mistimed a clip off Hasan Ali shortly after tea and found a gleeful Asad Shafiq oouching the catch at short midwicket.
Colin de Grandhomme (20) and Tim Southee (two) did not last long but Watling showed calm and patience to still be there at the close having scored 41 off 180 balls. And it is that innings that has Raval quietly confident that the pitch is only going to get tougher to score on.
“I think the boys did a fantastic job today, and hopefully BJ and (William) Somerville (12 not out), on his debut, can carry on the good work when they resume their innings,” Raval said.
“As the game goes on the ptich is going to be more variable and hopefully that works to our
advantage, especially if have to bowl last on this wicket.
“If we can give them a good score to chase I’m sure we’ll be in a good position in the fourth innings.”
Yasir started the day has he finished the second Test with a flurry of wickets.
The spin king came into the clash needing only five wickets to become the quickest bowler to reach 200 Test scalps. The record is currently 36 Tests, set 82 years ago by Australian legspinner Clarrie Grimmett.
Yasir ended the day with three for 62 but was then thwarted by the belligerance of Williamson and Watling.
New Zealand confident after day one of crunch Test against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi
New Zealand confident after day one of crunch Test against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi
- Black Caps recover from 72 for four to close day one of final Test in UAE.
- Opener confident side can register imposing first-innings score.
Al-Ittihad slump to fourth defeat of season in home loss to Al-Ettifaq
- Visitors’ Khalid Al-Ghannam scores only goal of the game as the reigning Saudi Pro League champs drop more points after drawing with Damac on Tuesday
- Earlier, Al-Fateh’s five-game winning streak ends with 1-1 draw against Al-Najma, and Al-Khaleej enjoy comfortable 4-1 victory over Al-Okhdood
RIYADH: Al-Ittihad’s disappointing defense of their Saudi Pro League title continued on Friday with a 1-0 home defeat at the hands of Al-Ettifaq.
Khalid Al-Ghannam scored the decisive goal for the visitors as the hosts dropped more points after their draw with Damac on Tuesday.
In the absence of Fabinho, who was suspended after being sent off late in Tuesday’s match, Mahamadou Doumbia partnered with N’golo Kante in midfield for Al-Ittihad. The Malian showed his composure early on when he shielded the ball under pressure before unleashing a long-range shot in the 10th minute, but it was comfortably saved by Marek Rodak.
The deployment of Al-Ghannam proved pivotal, as he repeatedly tested the hosts. In the 23rd minute he burst down the left flank, beating three defenders with some clever dribbling before testing Predrag Rajkovic in goal, who parried the effort.
Al-Ghannam bothered the defense again just minutes later, threatening the Serbian goalkeeper with another attempt from a similar position. However, the game remained goalless at halftime.
The second half began with Al-Ittihad on the front foot. Within minutes, Roger Fernandes found himself in front of goal and put the ball in the net, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside.
Al-Ghannam’s effort and influence eventually paid off for the visitors in the 54th minute. Operating as a left-sided striker during an Al-Ettifaq counterattack, he cut inside to curl a powerful shot into the far corner.
Al-Ittihad’s attacking approach varied as they fought to get back into the game, with Fernandes patrolling the left flank, Muhannad Al-Shanqeeti cutting inside near the byline, and central contributions from the combination of Doumbia and Steven Bergwijn. But the Al-Ettifaq defense remained resolute.
Danilo Pereira, pushing up into an advanced midfield position as Al-Ittihad forced Al-Ettifaq to defend deep, unleashed a long shot in the 67th minute, urged on by the home fans, but his effort went wide.
With time running out, Sergio Conceicao made four substitutions in the space of seven minutes, bringing on Ahmed Al-Julaydan at right-back for his crossing abilities, Abdulaziz Al-Bishi and Ahmed Al-Ghamdi to play between the lines, and Saleh Al-Shehri for added impetus up front.
Despite several chances, Al-Ittihad were unable to grab the equalizer, and in the 85th minute things got even worse for them. Keeper Rajkovic tripped on his way to confront a Mohau Nkota counterattack and stuck out his hand at the edge of the box to push the ball away. A review by the video assistant referee ruled he had handled the ball outside the box and he was shown the red card.
After seven minutes of added time, and one final attempt by Doumbia to salvage something for the hosts through a free-kick, the referee blew the final whistle.
It was the fourth defeat of the season for Al-Ittihad and means they remain in sixth place in the table, three behind Al-Qadsiah who have a game in hand. Al-Ettifaq are seventh, just two points behind the defending champions.
Earlier, Al-Fateh’s five-game winning streak came to an end when they returned from a trip to Qassim to face Al-Najma with only a point. The visitors took the lead in the 12th minute but a goal for the home side by Ali Jasim in the 75th denied them all three points as the game ended 1-1.
In the Eastern Province, Greek duo Giorgos Masouras and Kostas Fortounis proved the main inspirations for Al-Khaleej in a 4-1 victory over Al-Okhdood that temporarily lifted them into seventh place in the table, until Al-Ettifaq reclaimed the spot.
On Saturday, Al-Fayha face Damac, Al-Kholood take on fourth-place Al-Ahli, and second-place Al-Nassr are in action against Al-Shabab.
